Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1887-10-13

"x," indicating that the name wss
pronounced with the "an in the frs,
syllable short.
The theory of the "Bacouiansn IA
tat the name OF Shakespeare was a
q non de plume of Francis Bacon, who
had good reasons foI wishing that the
plays should not be published under
his name, ana when IL was necessary
to put forward some authors name
none filter or more popular than thai
OF the rising theatre manager could bt
adopted for the purpose; that the nam;
was purpOsely distinguished by tn,
different spelling; tnat the plays were
sent in, probably anonymously, TO the
manager lShakspere) Of the Blackfriar'
Theatre, who adapted them for the
stage. introducing, perhaps, some Of
the low comedy business into them,
and brought them out; that :! akspere
WAS the producer and not the com,
poser of the plays.
The reason Bacon and his friends,
who were in the secret of the author.
ship, had for wishing that during his
life. or Immediately after his death, be
should not be recognized a. the author,
were cogent. The stage and drama
were at that time at the lowest ebb.
Players, and plsywriters, and the
poetasters. were ranked among the
class of "n'er-do-wells, vagabonds,
sewers Of sedition and disorderly per.
sons. Henry the VIII. and Elizabeth
bad uttered proclsmations against
stage plays as tending TO immortality
disorder in the state aud depravity in
religion. Bacon's mother was a strict
Puritan, and her sons connection
with the stage as plsywriter would
have been great offanse 10 her.
Besides, such personal motives for
remaining a concealed poet, Bacon
had, no doubt, a stronger motive. In
those days, when neither daily papers
nor periodicals existed. the stage was
the readiest means of publishing opln-
ions on any subject. Bacon intended
by his plays 10 inculcste advanced
opinions on many subjects, reforms ia
law, staiecraft, manner. natural phi
lUsophy aud religion, TIE days were
dangerous. Men were liable to be i'm
prisoned, tortured. slain even, for their
opinions and beliefs. The theory is,
therefore. that Bacon then adopted the
method OF the ancients (which he
himself expounds and commendsl and
clothing himself in the humble weed
of the poor player, he poured out 10
ears, many Of which hearing heard
not, the thoughts and aspirations of
his myriad mind.
But to return to the circuinstantial
evidence bearing on the subject.
There are no manuscripts Of the plays
extant. 1t is sshd that the copies of
their parts were supplied 10 the actors
by the manager. Shakspere. in his
own handwriting, and without q
blot" a fact which 10 to my mind
strongly against his authorship; for a
busy and prolific composer does not, IL
he can help it. write fair pies for dis
tributi0n and certainly without altera-
ton or blot.
But is the character and caree o. the
man himself an indication that he was
the author"
IL we had no knowledge or record of
him, IL would be better for his reputed
title to the authorship; as it is, We
know lust enough of what manner Of
man he was 10 lind great difficulty IL
recognizing the possibility OF his hav-
ing produced such learned, elegant
and varied masterpieces as those
which bear a colorado imitation Of his
name.
The history of his life, so far as il is
known. is very shortly H. follows:
Born at Stratford-on-Avon In 1864, |
the son of John Shakspere, butcher,
or glover; his mother,
Mary Arden, of peasant family; |
neither parent Of any reputed ability
or learning. Supposed TO have been n
Short time at the Stratford grammar
school, but there IL no authentic evil
dence Of even this short period Of tut.
tiou. There Ii also u tradition that he |
became a country schoolmaster, and |
legal critics, despite of any tradition,
are sure that be was once employed In |
a lawyers office; but no hint Of his
having become remarkable in either |
capacity, and both stories seem to be |
rather an inference from the legal and |
other large knowledge and learning
apparent In the plays than based on
any real record or tradition.
He married at eighteen. There are
local traditions that he followed his
fathers trade rs butcher, and used TO
make q fine speech before killing q
calf; OF his having been In the hsbit OF
at pot-houses and clubs,
comics for amusement, and
In the neighborhood, until
Sir Thomas Lucy, the resident squire,
after q more than usually aggravated
case of poaching by him, prosecuted
him, the result being that he soon
after left Stratford, and went In 1887 TO
London. There he is reported to have
made his living for time by holding
horses al the Globe Theatre, then
bis way into . situation in
side the theatre, and then coming, by
degrees, TO be employed as super,
and walking" or utility gentleman" "
Now the commencement Of the phe-
nomena. A few years after his srri-
val in London appeared the poem,
Venus and Adonis," dedicated 10 the
young Earl Of Southampton, friend
OF Bacon, whom Shakspere could
hardly have known, unless from hold.
ing his horse at the door Of the theatre. "
Disregsrding Its subject, II 10 one
OF the most elegant pieces OF rbetori.
cal poetry that English literature has
produced 10 this day. Such produc-
tion from young countryman-coun-
try schoolmaster, II you please-wbo
could only have known the Warwick
shire dialect, had bad little opportu.
nifty for refined study OF English lang.
uaGe. and who had been earning bis
bread by holding horses, and was now
engaged In q minor capacity inside q
theatre, would, ! think am justified